This question has emerged in the minds of people suffering from dental issues with a lot of ifs and buts. Covid-19 is an infectious viral disease transmitted through respiratory droplets. The virus is also present in saliva and can be transmitted through saliva droplets.

As we all know, to break the chain of covid-19 transmission we should wash our hands with soap and water frequently, wear face masks and practice social distancing.

Toothache or tooth pain can vary from mild to severe though it can be controlled with medications most of the time. I don’t recommend patients take a lot of painkillers because long-term use has adverse effects on the liver and kidneys. Covid-19 is an uncommon situation for all of us. We need to learn THE NEW NORMAL now. We have to learn to live with covid-19 and still protect ourselves till the vaccine comes.

The dental council of India (DCI) has issued guidelines to be followed in dental clinics to prevent the transmission of covid-19.

•    Personal protective equipment (N95 mask, gown, head cap, gloves, face shields, shoe covers).
•    All procedures under a rubber dam.
•    Surface disinfection with 1% sodium hypochlorite.
•    Post-treatment airborne contaminant removal protocol: Any two of the mentioned below are to be followed for disinfection of the clinic.
  •    UV light Disinfection.
  •    Hydrogen peroxide fumigation.
  •    Proper natural ventilation of the clinic with exhaust fans.
  •    Air purifier with HEPA 13 or 14 filters.

How long can you delay treatment?

If one is not in pain, procedures like tooth whitening, tooth cleaning, implants, smile designing, etc can be delayed. If you are feeling pain or discomfort you should visit the dentist. Excessive usage of medicines to suppress the etiology is not advisable.

What precautions are to be taken before visiting a dental clinic?

•    Stay home, if you feel unwell.
•    Take prior appointment over the phone before visiting a dentist to avoid crowding at the reception area ( Rule of one patient inside the clinic at one time to be followed )
•    Wear a mask before going out for your dental appointment.
•    Try not to accompany anyone with you for your dental appointment except for kids and differently-abled.

In one of the best dental clinics in Noida like ours (Complete dental solutions) contactless infrared temperature check is the first step on arrival followed by hand sanitizing. You are advised to remove the mask you were wearing, sanitize your hands again and wear a new mask, gloves, shoe cover and head cap provided at reception. The oxygen saturation levels in the blood are also checked with a pulse oximeter before entering the operatory.

Both doctor and assistant wear all personalized protective equipment for everyone’s safety. Not easy though in this hot humid weather but we do! Your safety is our priority.

All procedures are carried out under a rubber dam. Sterilized instruments in sealed pouches are used for treatment.

Toothpaste without fluoride doesn’t protect you against cavities e.g Dabur red, Meswak.

After treatment, all four methods mentioned in the post-treatment airborne contaminant protocol are being used in our clinic to achieve optimum safety levels. It is then followed by surface disinfection and mopping of the floor by disinfectant.

It takes 30-45 minutes to prepare the clinic for the next patient.

So don’t be scared of visiting the dentist, we are doing everything we can to keep everyone safe and prevent transmission of covid-19.